Values, norms and practices in plant biodiversity-based research and innovation commons Sélim Louafi Elizabeth Arnaud Daniel Barthélémy Pierre Bonnet Jean-Louis Noyer Jean-Louis Pham 1st IASC Conference on the Knowledge Commons – Louvain-la-Neuve, 12-14/09/12
A contrasted landscape in biodiversity research (1) Opportunities ◦ Omics sciences, bio-informatics generate, manage, analyze big biological datasets ◦ Information Technologies make access to these datasets feasible Constraints ◦ increasing complexity and uncertainty with regard to the access to, use and exchange of biological material and information.
A contrasted landscape in biodiversity research (2) • Number of pooling initiatives (of material, data, technologies) – critical mass, added value – reduction of public spending on research – “ Shanghaï Ranking syndrom ” (big is beautiful...) • Two major policy evolutions are disrupting cooperative behavior – access and benefit sharing – IPR policies By overemphasizing monetary incentives, these two frameworks inadequately match the needs and expectations of the research community
How do scientific communities with open sharing norms cope with this context ? • knowledge-sharing processes • governance mechanisms • collective arrangements to promote the widest possible access to scientific information in the research process while maximizing the reciprocal benefits expected in any exchange practice.
Comparison of three biodiversity-based initiatives that try to increase generation, use and exchange of biological knowledge commons ◦ implemented at different governance levels and drawing on different levels of formalization Comprehensive assessment ◦ Institutional Analysis and Development framework ◦ Social capital theory
intiative Through transdisciplinary research between botany ( sensu largo ) and computational sciences: • Develop and provide free, web-based, easy-access software tools and methods for o plant identification o aggregation, management, sharing and utilisation of all kinds of plant-related data • Promotes citizens’ involvement as a powerful means to enrich databases with new information on plants www.plantnet-project.org
Multi-function platform (conservation, research and training) devoted to the assessment and better use of plant agro-biodiversity in Mediterranean and tropical regions. Research focus on the relationship between crop diversity and the processes of domestication and adaptation to the agricultural environment ◦ Population genetics, molecular evolution, but also ethnobotany, anthropology ◦ Major and underutilized crops www.arcad-project.org
Conservation of biological resources - PGR SP6 DNA bank - passeport data SP7 Cryopreservation - New entries and data - samples conservation - Conservation strategies - traceability - transferable technology - Databases SP1 Comparative crop - Assembling population genomics - Sequence annotation - SNP detection - Methodology - Web interfces - Population structure - Methodology - Validation Intra-specific effects SP4 SP5 of selection Bioinformatics Linkage Genome wide SNP Disequilibrium Knowledge on genome evolution Methods for detection of selection SP2 Crop SP3 Cereals in Adaptation to Africa climate change Additional data on crop adaptation SP8 Training
a treaty-based international information system a world-wide meta-information system on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture compiles data from existing national, regional or international genebank information systems in support of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Among first data compiled, are those of CGIAR, USDA and the European Network for Plant Genetic Resources www.genesys-pgr.org
From Mackay, 2011
Institutional Analysis and Development framework Pl@ntnet ARCAD Genesys Type of Ideas, databases, software Ideas, databases, research Database knowledge tools commons Wide geographical and Club of researchers with Open-sharing norms with Attributes of statutory scope with strong strong open sharing norms high national sensitivities community open-sharing norms about data sharing Formalised through open Formalised in very broad Reference to international Rule-in-use access regime terms through institutional legal framework (ITPGRFA) framework agreement between partnering institutions but, practically speaking, very informal procedures amongst researchers University researchers, ARIs University researchers, ARIs University researchers, ARIs Actors for development, initiated for development, NARS, for development, NARS; citizens, NGO, herbarium teachers/trainers, genebank Breeders, genebank managers, natural park managers, farmers managers, decision- managers makers/administrative representatives, regional professional networks, NGOs
Desired features of the arrangements Foster internal partnership ◦ Promote the exchange of resources (genetic, research tools, knowledge, information) Favour integration of newcomers (individuals, groups or institutions) Contribute to the initiative sustainability
Three dimensions of social capital are considered to analyse pattern of interactions for knowledge and data sharing ◦ Structural dimension: who shares knowledge and how is knowledge shared? Structural opportunity to share knowledge ◦ Cognitive dimension: what knowledge is shared? Cognitive ability to share knowledge ◦ Relational dimension: why and when is knowledge shared? Relation-based motivation to share knowledge
Patterns of interaction • Distributed system of • Central place of • Hierarchical Structural • Importance of national opportunity to exchange through an IT researchers. • Hierarchical structure with share knowledge common platform. structures as nodes. • Distributed/decentralised • Centralised control of division of labour by sub- peer production system of networks (work-packages). data management and knowledge production distribution. • Shared codes for species • Shared academic language • Shared codes (Multi-Crop Cognitive ability to share knowledge description and photo Passport descriptors) interpretation but cognitive dissonance between genebank managers and breeders about what knowledge to be shared • Generalised reciprocity • Trust • International norms & Relation-based • Similarities of values motivation to share obligations knowledge (shared goals and interests) • Identification to project • Increased identification of • Increased capacities of • Increased use and Outcomes species collaboration exchange of material • increased coverage of worldwide species phenotyped and genotyped • new research ideas
Conclusions (1) These 3 projects deal with « old » objects or disciplins (genetic resources, taxonomy) but they would not exist without recent breakthrough in computer science, IT, bioinformatics, molecular biology. What particularly impacts new collective arrangements is : ◦ the amount of data, their speed of generation, their analysis through new research tools, their actual or potential availability to the world community ◦ the nature and diversity of communities associated to the projects
Conclusions (2) Three contrasting strategies to increase scientists’ cooperative capacities in sharing knowledge and data: ◦ Open science and generalized reciprocity approach (Pl@ntNet) ◦ Club approach/self-regulation through strong identification strategy (Arcad) ◦ Formal rules backed by inter-governmental agreement establishing non-exclusive rights (International Treaty) (Genesys)
Conclusions (3) Importance of (non-monetary) benefits derived from the knowledge commons A limited number and group homogeneity increase the short- term efficiency (quality and quantity of information shared) of knowledge commons management but weaken its long term sustainability unless some benefits are more widely shared Conversely, open access system ensures wider inclusiveness (ever-expanding system) but requires continuous efforts to demonstrate its efficiency (in providing benefits that create enough incentive to contribute) More formal rules established by multilateral agreements are potentially universal in scope but suffer from ever incomplete rules that limit their efficiency
Thank you Rice harvest, Guinea, 2007
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